Ellis vs Patterson Sep 14th, 1968 Stockholm
Jimmy Ellis was defending his WBA Heavyweight title for the first time after winning the elimination tournament to find a champion after Muhammad Ali's forced retirement. Ellis has just strung together 11 straight wins including big victories over Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonavera and Jerry Quarry in the Elimination Tournament. His overall record was 226-5 with 12 KO's. Floyd Patterson was a two-time heavyweight champ who had fought since 1952. This was his last chance to regain the title. He was coming off a tough loss to Jerry Quarry in a bout many thought Patterson had won. Floyd's overall record was 46-6-1 with 36 KO's. It should be noted that Joe Frazier was the New York state heavyweight champ at the time. Let's see how his controversial fight went.

Here's the fight as I saw it.-Green are the round scores as I scored it.

Round 1 - Ellis comes out pretty aggressive as usual, Patterson mostly defensive. Ellis lands a nice little right. Ellis a little busier. Crowd is obviously for Floyd who has fought in Sweden before. Patterson lands a little right at the bell. Ellis 1-0

Round 2 - Ellis trying to work the uppercut. Not landing much. Patterson lands a right. Ellis has a little nosebleed. Patterson more aggressive this round. Very little action. Even; Ellis 1-0

Round 3 - Patterson lands a jab. This fight is slow-moving. Ellis with a nice right. Patterson stunned by a right. Patterson falls into the corner. He's being hit by little uppercuts. Another uppercut hurts Patterson. Ellis landing real well here. Patterson trying to throw at the end. Ellis's round; 2-0 Ellis

Round 4 - Patterson comes out with a nice left hook. Ellis hit by a left. Patterson moves forward. Patterson lands another big right. Nice round for Patterson. Patterson lands another right and Ellis stunned and cut over right eye!!!! Patterson's round; 2-1 Ellis

Round 5 - Ellis looking to jab, hardly any action here. Ellis's nose dripping blood. Ellis with a nice quick right. Both miss with rights. Patterson with a nice uppercut. Even round; Ellis 2-1

Round 6 -Patterson slips on the outdoor canvas. . Ellis moves forward and misses. One minute and no one has landed a punch. Ellis the only one throwing. Ellis lands a jab. Patterson with a big hook, and Ellis is shaken. Patterson's round; 2-2 even

Round 7 - Ellis with a jab. No action here. They exchange jabs. Patterson lands a right. Ellis missing a lot. Ellis with a good right. Patterson's round; 3-2 Patterson

Round 8 - Ellis trying to regain some control. Ellis using the jab more here. They are missing a lot. Ellis doing better here. Patterson lands a good right. Ellis more busy this round to take it. Ellis's round; 3-3 even

Round 9 - Ellis punching on the clinch. Blood flowing from Ellis's nose. Patterson holding a lot on the inside. They exchange jabs and miss some more. Patterson lands a nice uppercut. Ellis missing all his shots. Patterson's round; 4-3 Patterson

Round 10 - Patterson with a little sneaky right. Ellis doing nothing here. Patterson with a stiff jab. Ellis missing wildly. Hardly any action at this point. Patterson just plain outworking Jimmy. Patterson trying to set up his left hook. Patterson's round; 5-3 Patterson

Round 11 - Ellis comes out swinging and missing. Ellis misses his overhand right. Patterson doing little this round. Ellis more effectively aggressive this round. Patterson with a nice left hook. Ellis lands a good right. Ellis's round; 5-4 Patterson

Round 12 - Patterson with a good left hook. He is looking purposeful. Ellis trying to get started. Very slow round. Ellis with a nice uppercut. They look weary. Even round; 5-4 Patterson

Round 13 - Patterson with a good jab. Ellis with a nice hook. Patterson lands a little right. Ellis with a nice little inside shot. Both with nose bleeding now. Patterson with two good shots to end the round. Patterson's round; 6-4 Patterson

Round 14 - They tie each other up. They miss some more shots. Patterson coming forward. Patterson with a nice left. Patterson more busy here. Patterson with a nice right lead. Ellis goes down, but it's called a slip. Patterson's round; 7-4 Patterson

Round 15 - Ellis moving on his toes. Patterson coming forward. Patterson continues forward with four or five nice shots. Patterson with a couple nice jabs. Ellis hurts him with a right. Patterson is hurt. He is holding on. Ellis coming forward trying to end it. He is sloppy. Ellis lands an uppercut. Ellis can't put him down. Ellis's round; 7-5-3 Patterson

Official Decision 9-6 Ellis

I was very surprised by the referee's scoring when I first saw this fight. I thought the fight was close, but 9-6 for Ellis was not very accurate. Harold Valen was the referee, and he explained that Ellis was making the fight. He was moving forward, but Floyd was the one landing more. The punch in the 14th round that knocked Ellis down should have been ruled a knockdown, but it wouldn't have changed the winner in Valen's estimation. This fight is one reason the three-judge system is a must in boxing. One referee isn't enough.